The National Unity Platform (NUP) has warned security agencies against interfering with its signature collection exercises after officially picking presidential nomination forms for its flag bearer, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, ahead of the 2026 general elections.
On Monday, a high-powered delegation led by NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya and Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi received the forms from the Electoral Commission (EC) headquarters in Kampala.
While acknowledging that the process is a legal requirement for all aspirants, the party expressed concern that state security could once again obstruct their efforts.
Rubongoya recalled that during the 2020 elections, NUP experienced direct interference.
“It’s a challenging journey. Last time, after collecting signatures, the police and army came and raided our offices, took them, and even stole some money. We are hoping they are not planning to do the same,” he said.
Ssenyonyi urged security agencies to allow Ugandans to freely make their political choices.
“We know the security outfits might have their candidates of choice, but let the people of Uganda make their own choice.
We hope they will keep calm and not disrupt our people collecting signatures. We hope no one will be killed or brutalized simply because of a campaign,” he said.
He also called on the Electoral Commission to ensure neutrality in managing the exercise.
“We are happy the EC received us well. Our hope is that they will be neutral arbiters, not silent bystanders when security interferes with processes they themselves have sanctioned,” Ssenyonyi added.
NUP said it would immediately embark on a nationwide mobilization to collect the 100 signatures required from at least two-thirds of Uganda’s districts, in line with electoral guidelines.
The party emphasized that it aims to conduct a peaceful and transparent process despite what it described as a hostile environment.
During the 2020 elections, NUP accused security agencies of repeatedly disrupting its activities, particularly during the signature collection exercise.
The party reported police raids on its offices, confiscation of signatures, and detention of several coordinators.
Some of the confiscated materials were reportedly never returned, creating tensions between the party, the Electoral Commission, and state security agencies.
As the 2026 elections approach, NUP hopes the Electoral Commission will play a more active role in restraining security organs to guarantee fairness in the electoral process.